Objective To investigate the differences in cortical activation and functional connectivity during speech under different cognitive loads in young individuals.Methods Twenty-one participants(mean age 21.9±1.33 years)were instructed to read short sentences embedded with color words under both congruent(where the color words matched the font color)and incongruent(where the color words did not match the font color)condi-tions.The color words required reading the font color instead of the word itself.Functional near-infrared spectros-copy(fNIRS)was utilized to analyze differences in cortical activation(changes in HbO concentration)and functional connectivity(Pearson correlation of HbO between brain regions)in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)and supplementary motor area(SMA)bilaterally.Results The fNIRS results revealed significant increase in HbO con-centration changes in the RDLPFC(t=3.4,P=0.003),LDLPFC(t=2.58,P=0.019),RSMA(t=3.59,P=0.002),and LSMA(t=4.06,P=0.001)under the incongruent condition compared to the congruent condition.Additionally,there was a significant enhancement in the correlation between RDLPFC and LDLPFC(t=2.44,P=0.025).However,the differences in correlation between left and right SMA,as well as between SMA and DLPFC,were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion These findings suggest that during speech under incongru-ent conditions,increased cognitive load leads to elevated cortical activation in the DLPFC and SMA,along with in-creased functional connectivity between the left and right DLPFC.

Objective To investigate the differences in cortical activation and functional connectivity during speech under different cognitive loads in young individuals.Methods Twenty-one participants(mean age 21.9±1.33 years)were instructed to read short sentences embedded with color words under both congruent(where the color words matched the font color)and incongruent(where the color words did not match the font color)condi-tions.The color words required reading the font color instead of the word itself.Functional near-infrared spectros-copy(fNIRS)was utilized to analyze differences in cortical activation(changes in HbO concentration)and functional connectivity(Pearson correlation of HbO between brain regions)in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)and supplementary motor area(SMA)bilaterally.Results The fNIRS results revealed significant increase in HbO con-centration changes in the RDLPFC(t=3.4,P=0.003),LDLPFC(t=2.58,P=0.019),RSMA(t=3.59,P=0.002),and LSMA(t=4.06,P=0.001)under the incongruent condition compared to the congruent condition.Additionally,there was a significant enhancement in the correlation between RDLPFC and LDLPFC(t=2.44,P=0.025).However,the differences in correlation between left and right SMA,as well as between SMA and DLPFC,were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion These findings suggest that during speech under incongru-ent conditions,increased cognitive load leads to elevated cortical activation in the DLPFC and SMA,along with in-creased functional connectivity between the left and right DLPFC.

The development, progression, and curative efficacy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are influenced by complex interactions between epithelial and immune cells. Nevertheless, the specific changes in the nature of these interactions and their underlying molecular mechanisms in HNSCC are not yet fully understood. Cuproptosis, a form of programmed cell death that is dependent on copper, has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis. However, the understanding of cuproptosis in the context of HNSCC remains limited. In this study, we have discovered that cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (CRLs) known as JPX play a role in promoting the expression of the oncogene urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU) by competitively binding to miR-193b-3p in HNSCC. The increased activity of the JPX/miR-193b-3p/PLAU axis in malignant epithelial cells leads to enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HNSCC. Moreover, the overexpression of PLAU in tumor epithelial cells facilitates its interaction with the receptor PLAUR, predominantly expressed on macrophages, thereby influencing the abnormal epithelial-immune interactome in HNSCC. Notably, the JPX inhibitor Axitinib and the PLAU inhibitor Palbociclib may not only exert their effects on the JPX/miR-193b-3p/PLAU axis that impacts the malignant tumor behaviors and the epithelial-immune cell interactions but also exhibit synergistic effects in terms of suppressing tumor cell growth and arresting cell cycle by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK4/6) for the treatment of HNSCC.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/genetics* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/genetics* ; Cell Movement ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

The development,progression,and curative efficacy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)are influenced by complex interactions between epithelial and immune cells.Nevertheless,the specific changes in the nature of these interactions and their underlying molecular mechanisms in HNSCC are not yet fully understood.Cuproptosis,a form of programmed cell death that is dependent on copper,has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis.However,the understanding of cuproptosis in the context of HNSCC remains limited.In this study,we have discovered that cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs(CRLs)known as JPX play a role in promoting the expression of the oncogene urokinase-type plasminogen activator(PLAU)by competitively binding to miR-193b-3p in HNSCC.The increased activity of the JPX/miR-193b-3p/PLAU axis in malignant epithelial cells leads to enhanced cell proliferation,migration,and invasion in HNSCC.Moreover,the overexpression of PLAU in tumor epithelial cells facilitates its interaction with the receptor PLAUR,predominantly expressed on macrophages,thereby influencing the abnormal epithelial-immune interactome in HNSCC.Notably,the JPX inhibitor Axitinib and the PLAU inhibitor Palbociclib may not only exert their effects on the JPX/miR-193b-3p/PLAU axis that impacts the malignant tumor behaviors and the epithelial-immune cell interactions but also exhibit synergistic effects in terms of suppressing tumor cell growth and arresting cell cycle by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK4/6)for the treatment of HNSCC.

【Objective】 To investigate the polymorphism of KIR2DL4 gene in northern Chinese Han population. 【Methods】 A total of 327 DNA samples were isolated by magnetic beads from unrelated individuals of northern Chinese Han population. The coding sequence (CDS) of KIR2DL4 were amplified using four pairs of KIR2DL4-specific PCR primers developed by our own KIR sequencing-based typing patent, and each exon of KIR2DL4 carried by the four PCR amplicons was then subjected to DNA Sanger sequencing in both directions. The genotype of each sample was assigned using the Assign 4.7 software. 【Results】 Among 327 individuals, 8 different kinds of KIR2DL4 alleles were detected, with observed frequencies ranked as KIR2DL4^*00102 [77.1%(252/327)], ^*00501 [35.8%(117/327)], ^*011 [20.2%(66/327)], ^*00602 [12.5%(41/327)], ^*00801 [8.6%(28/327)], ^*00103 [4.9%(16/327)], ^*00503 [1.5%(5/327)] and ^*00504 [0.9%(3/327)]. In this study, the 10A type alleles which can encode a full membrane-bound receptor include 2DL4^*00102, ^*00103, ^*00501, ^*00503, ^*00504 and ^*00602, whereas the 9A type alleles which produce truncated forms of receptor include 2DL4^*00801 and ^*011. The observed frequencies for 10A and 9A type KIR2DL4 alleles were 97.6% (319/327) and 27.8% (91/327), respectively. The ratio of 10A to 9A type was 3.5: 1. The observed frequencies of KIR2DL4 alleles in northern Chinese Han population showed no significant difference compared with southern Chinese Han population (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 The allelic diversity of KIR2DL4 elucidated in the present study can provide valuable data for KIR-associated disease studies and human evolution.

Objective To observe the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation on intestinal microbiota and brain function in sepsis rats. Methods Sixty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into sham operation group, model group and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) group by random number table, each group 20 rats. The rat model of sepsis was established by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 mg/kg in tail vein. FMT group received nasogastric infusion of feces from healthy donor. Fecal samples were collected on the 6th day after the modeling to detect the levels of intestinal microbiota composition; the brain function was also evaluated by electroencephalogram (EEG), and the proportion of each waveform in EEG was calculated. After sacrifice of rats in different groups, the brain tissues were taken, the levels of protein expression and positive cells of Iba-1 in brain tissue were detected by Western Blot and immunohistochemistry method. Results ① Intestinal flora analysis showed that: the diversity index and Chaol index of the intestinal microbiota in model group were significantly lower than that in sham operation group (observed species:282±40 vs. 473±37, Chao1 index: 730±21 vs. 837±27, both P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the diversity index and Chaol index in FMT group were obviously higher (observed species: 461±20 vs. 282±40, Chao1 index:840±16 vs. 730±21, both P < 0.05). At phylum, family, genus level analysis showed that the proportion of Firmicutes phylum and Fusobacterium were obviously lower than those of sham operation group [Firmicutes phylum (22.12±1.34)% vs. (78.01±1.23)%, Fusobacterium: (2.03±0.17)% vs. (5.03±0.19)%, both P < 0.05], and the proportions of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes phyla and Acidaminococcaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, Enterbacteriacecae, Alistipes were markedly higher in model group [Proteobacteria: (70.21±2.35)% vs. (19.45±2.17)%, Bacteroidetes phyla: (4.12±0.19)% vs. (2.50±0.64)%, Acidaminococcaceae: (12.51±0.87)% vs. (1.01±0.12)%, Fusobacteriaceae: (13.62±1.27)% vs. (2.31±0.19)%, Enterbacteriacecae: (18.24±2.13)% vs. (4.15±1.51)%, Alistipes: (4.53±0.27)% vs. (1.47±0.33)%, all P < 0.05]; compared with the model group, the proportion of Firmicutes phylum and Faecalibacterium in FMT group were significantly higher [Firmicutes phylum: (72.14±2.31)% vs. (22.12±1.34)%, Faecalibacterium: (5.01±0.27)% vs. (2.03±0.17)%, both P < 0.05], and Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes phyla and Acidaminococcaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, Enterbacteriacecae in FMT group were obviously lower [Proteobacteria: (14.23±1.98)% vs. (70.21±2.35)%, Bacteroidetes phyla: (3.15±0.18)% vs. (4.12±0.19)%, Acidaminococcaceae: (0.91±0.11)% vs. (12.51±0.87)%, Fusobacteriaceae: (1.25±0.15)% vs. (13.62±1.27)%, Enterbacteriacecae: (3.50±0.21)% vs. (18.24±2.13)%, all P < 0.05]. ② EEG analysis showed that the percentages of δ wave in EEG in model group was significantly higher after modeling than that in sham operation group [(16.86±0.50)% vs. (10.67±0.65)%, P < 0.05]; the ratios of δ wave in EEG was significantly lower in FMT group than that in the model group [(12.87±0.60)% vs. (17.35±0.41)%, P <0.05]. The incidence of abnormal EEG in sham operation group was 0, the incidence of abnormal EEG in model group was significantly increased [the ratios of δpredominant wave, θpredominant wave, low-voltage were 66.7% (6/9), 66.7% (6/9), 77.8% (7/9) respectively], the ratios of above abnormal waves in EEG in FMT group were obviously lower than those in model group [the ratios of above abnormal waves in FMT group were respectively 9.1% (1/11), 9.1% (1/11), 18.2%(2/11)]. ③ Western Blot analysis showed that the protein expression of Iba-1 in cortex in model group obviously was higher than that in sham operation group (Iba-1/β-actin: 1.39±0.16 vs. 0.67±0.18, P < 0.05); the expression of Iba-1 in cortex tissue of FMT group was markedly lower than that in model group (Iba-1/β-actin: 0.51±0.14 vs. 1.39±0.16, P < 0.05). ④ Immunohistochemistry of Iba-1 in cortex analysis showed that there were no Iba-1 positive cells in the cortex in sham operation group; Iba-1 positive cells were found in the cortex in model group; the number of Iba-1 positive cells in FMT group was less than that in model group. Conclusion FMT can improve the construction of intestinal microbiota, and ameliorate the brain dysfunction in SAE.